glaus



May 26, 1931.

R. R. CLAUS lDEvIcJE FOR LIFTING BODIES SUBMERGED In WATER Filed Sept.25, 1930 INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY/(ZI,yc

Patented May 216, 1931 UNITED STATES ROLE R. CLAUS, or Wiisr NEW Yon-K,New JERSEY l Dnv'icn ron LiETiNG' nonies suene-nenn in waren 1 vApplication filed September 25, 193).A Serial No. 484,287.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for lifting objectsparticularly objects submerged in water,-and more particularly Y ,p to alife-saving device, and it is the principal 53 object of my invention toprovide a device of this character which is easily and readily inflatedby a simple pull on a wire releasing a fluid such as water to be broughtthereby -`into contact with av gas developing material such as forinstance carbide to inflate a tube which in its deflated state may beconveniently carried on a person. Y Y

lt is well known that the commonly known u inflatable tubes which mustbe infiated by air l5E blown into the same become almost useless incases of emergency, as the inflating'by air requires considerable timeand effort from the part of a drowning person, generally not w `able tospare this time and effort. This dis- Q advantage is successfullyovercome by the device according to my invention, according to which apull on a wire by a person about to drown and seeking in selfpreservation will M release a gas instantly inflating a tube about theneck of the person tending to keep his head above the water for aconsiderable time until help is coming to the rescue.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter which is SG1'comparatively simple, and therefore, inexpensiveyet, durable and efficient in operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a bi-p'artitecasing containing a .n. .-fluid as for instance water in a balloon ofweasily torn material and a gas developing chemical such as carbide withwhich the water from the torn balloon is brought into contact wherebymeans are provided to produce ma water and gas tight Clo-sure at thepoint of union of both parts.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a deviceequipped with a valve preventing the entrance of fluid into the tubeinibut allowing a free circulation of the gas.

It will be evident that this device may not only be used for life savingpurposes but also for rescuing sunken ships as for instance submarinesor boats and for floating the latter 51M and for many other purposeswhere the lift- .thread 22, and a washer 23 ing of an object above thewater level is desirable or essential. Y

Vrlhesevand other objects and advantages of my device will become morefully known as the description thereof proceeds, and will then bespecifically defined in the appended claims. H Y

ln the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 shows the application of a device constructed according to myinvention to a person, with inflated tube. i

2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the inflating device on anenlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is afragmentary sectional velevation of a tube illustrating theattachment of the inflating device thereto.

Figs. 4l and 5 are detail views of a valve.

As illustrated, the life-saving device or lifting contrivance'comprisesan inflatable rubber tube 10 equipped at its ends with nipples 11 and 12for the reception of the head branches of a T-member 13 forming a gasandair tight closure therewith.

' The head piece of member 13 has a longi- 75 tudinal bore 14communicating with a bore 15 in the foot part of the T-member the lowerend of which hasattached thereto the nipple 1G of a flexible tube 17,the lower end of which is secured to a neck 18 of the upper part 19 `8oof a bi-partite casing and held thereon by the engagement with a collar20 on the neck overl which the material of the tube 17 is tightly drawn.A

The lower Vpart 21 of the casing is attached 85, tothe upper'part of thecasing by a screw 0 provides a water, gaas and airtight closure at theplace of junction between the two parts of the casing.

Theinner walls of the casing parts 19, 21, gb are lined with a lining 24of suitable Ymaterial impervious to water, acid and gas.

In the upper part 19 of casing a balloon 25 made ofA easily tearingmaterial, such as for instance thin rubber is arranged, and the lowerpart 21 of the casing is adapted to be filled with a bodyrof a material26 quickly developing a gas when brought into contact with Water, suchas for instance carbide;

A thin wire 27 is guided about the bal- 100 loon in two loopsintersecting each other to prevent slipping, as illustrated in Figure 2,and the ends are 'formed into a loop 28 through which the other end ofthe wire is drawn and wound about the rip cord or wire 27 extendingthrough the lower part 21 of the casing and out of the same through arubber gasket 29 held in the lower nipple 30 of the part 21 by a collar31. The outer end of wire 27 carries a handle or ball grip 32.

luto the neck 1S is screwed a valve body 33 preventing the escape ofwater into tube 17 while allowing the gas to enter the same throughopenings or ports 3ft communicating with the channels in collar 20.

The opera-tion of: my device will be entirely clear from the abovedescription and by simultaneous inspection of the drawings, and it willbe evident that a person about to drown acting through the compellingforce "of self-preservation will mechanically grip ISO the ball 32 andpull the same so as to tear balloon 25 so that the water containedtherein will come into cont ct with the carbide and develop a gas whichwill Lloat into the rtube 10 and infiate the same.

The valve will allow the free passage of the gas while preventing theentrance of the water into the tube.

t will be understood that have described and shown the preferred form ofmy device only as one example of the many possible ways to practicallyconstruct the same and that I may make such changes in its generalarrangement and in the construction 'of the minor details thereof ascome within the scope of the appended claims without departure from thespirit of my invention and the principles involved.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A life saving apparatus comprising an inflatable tube adapted to beworn about the ,neck of a person, a flexible tube connected to saidtube, a bi-partite casing to which said flexible tube is connected, athin rubber body or balloon containing water, in one part of saidcasing, a carbide supply in the other part of said container, a wirewound about said rubber body, extending out of said casing and a handleat the outer end of said wire to be pulled for tearing said balloon toconibine its water with the carbide to develop 52-a gas for inflatingsaid tube, and a valve for controlling the gas supply therefor andpreventing the entrance of water into said tube. i

2. In a device of the class described an inflatable tube, nipples in theends of said tube, a T-piece adapted to engage with its head branches,said nipples, a means for providing an air, liuid, and gas tight closureat this point, a flexible tube, a nipple thereon adapted to engage thelower end of the foot branch of said T-piece, a bi-partite casing havinga neck to which the other end of said ilexible tube is engaged, a collaron the neck of said casing for securely .holding said tube thereon, ameans for controlling the passage between neck and flexible tube, meansin said casing allowing the development of a gas therein to inflate saidiniiatable tube, and a means for operating said last named means.

3. In a device of the class described a bipartite casing, one part ofsame screwed to the other, a means for providing a tight closure at themeeting ends of both casing parts, an inner water, and acid proof liningin both parts of said casing, a balloon of thin rubber in the upper partof said casing, a supply ot carbide in the lower part of same, and awire guided crosswise about said balloon, having one end formed into aloop for the passage of its other end to the ends to be contractedagainst said balloon to tear the saine and combining its water contentswith said carbide to develop a gas, a rubber tube adapted to be infiatedby the gas developed, and a handle at the outer end ot said wire toallow a breaking of the balloon by a pull exerted on said handle.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York,this 22nd day ot September A. D. 1930.

ROLF R. CLAUS.

